transmission fluid & engine oil

Dragonair

Last Oct i went to Mr Lube for changing my transmission fluid. It recommends me to change again on Jan or 255000KM. My car now runs 253xxxKM only, do u recommend me to change again?

I chance my engie oil at Walmart, do u know cna i go Walmart for transmission fluid as well?

Thanks.

shutterbug

What kind of car you have and what was the mileage at your last change?

Transmission fluid, you don't need to change that often, not as often as engine oil though.

Guideline: 6000km/or every 4 months whichever comes first.  This is for typical cars.

Dragonair

shutterbug

I search webpage several mentions transmission fluid be changed every 30,000 miles (around 50000KM)or 2 years.
e.g http://cars.cartalk.com/content/advice/transmissionfluid.html
http://www.carcare.org/Auto_Transmission/trans_fluid.shtml

But my Mr.Lube record ask me to change it every 3 mths or 5000KM (similar to what you said), seems to be a large difference between 5000km or 50000km. That's why i confused.

shutterbug

I think they screwed up then...now the bigger question is that did they really changed your trans fluid or engine oil last time???

I was talking about 4months/6000km is for engine oil change. Sorry if I confused you.

SAZABI

Not really, Dragonair.
I do it every 15,000 km (which may be an overkill).
The frequency of tranny oil change is really a personal preference (provided that you don't go over the factory recommended interval).  Also, it depends on the method of oil change.  Normally, I would say at least 25% of the old oil would stay in the transmission (esp. torque converter), unless they have a machine to flush the whole system.  But I doubt the places you mention would have those machine.

Derek128

Dragonair what car do u have?

字典仔

normally i will recommand oil change every 5k or every 6 months (whichever comes first, say a very low mileage car might be good to do it at 4k or 3k interval ~ if that's what u get for 6 months, easier to keep record on things); and all fluid flush every 25k, or 2 years ~ again, whichever comes first.

now the thing is, ur car already has 255k, god knows if ur transmission fluid was very dirty or not?! I have told many ppl to change their oil after 800 to 1500km, that's just because their oil is sooooo dirty! i think transmission wise i have asked ppl to come back 1500km to 2000km after, again, that's because of their fluid is so dirty.

sazabi is correct, u wouldn't be able to drain all the transmission fluid out, without taking off the tranny and drain the torque convertor; depends on make, some cars u can only drain 30% (about 2.5L out of 8L), and some cars u can drain up to 66% (6L out of 9L)...as soon as the new fluid goes in it will mix with the old fluid then u will have to flush them out before they get too bad again....

shutterbug

It depends on what kind of flush you're doing.  If they flush with a machine,  which is the best method, it can almost replace all the fluid inside.  It hooks up to the cooler inlet and return and about 16L of fluid will be push into the tranny as the dirty stuff will be pushed out.

The "drain & fill" type of fluid change like the ones on Toyota is recommended at a short interval because they merely don't replace much fluid, only about 2.5L.

Some GM products, they claim their fluid can last for the lifetime of the car

SAZABI

Place with the flushing machine for tranny may charge arm + leg for one tranny fluid change...

Last time I got one, they charged me sth like $125 just for using the machine... + oil and labour... i think i end up paying $200 for that.